turner



(No Model.)

J. J. TURNER.

DEVICE FOR AOTUATING RAILWAY SIGNALS.

No. 382,284. Patented May 1, 1888;

UNITED STATES JAMES J. TURNER, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JOHN F. MILLER, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR ACTUATING RAILWAY-SlGNALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 382,284, dated May 1, 1888.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES J. TURNER, of Richmond, county of \Vayne, State oflndiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement 5 in Devices for Actuating Railway-Signals and Compensating for Expansion or Contraction in the Actuating-Oonnection, of which the following is a true and exact description, due reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to devices for actuating the signals on railway lines, and also for the similar uses of actuating the switches and switchlooks, and has for its object to improve I the safety and efficicncy of the connection to the signal or other movable element, to insure that the possible expansion and contraction of the connectingline shall not prevent the correct setting of the signal or other element, and

to provide for the setting of the signal to danger in case of the breaking of its actuating-connection.

A further object of my invention is to so connect a signal with its actuating-line, hav- 2 5 ing an operatinglever on one end and a weight or spring'on the other end, that the weight shall act on the signal to bring it to safety, whilethe danger position is broughtabout by apull on the lever against the weight. This 0 is desirable, as in case of the sagging of the connecting-line from any cause the effect of the pullisto hold the signal todanger, and is, besides, a construction easier to operate and more reliable than where the opposite plan is 3 5 pursued, and I have provided against its chief danger by the device for causing the signal to go to danger in case of a breakage in its connecting-line.

Generally speaking, my invention consists,

o first, of the device ofa pivoted disk grooved first circularly, then spirally, and again circularly, said groove or slot connecting in a novel way with astud on the device giving motion to the signal or other device, and the disk being connected with and rotated by the signal-connection; second, in the arrangement of a signal-actuating line with a weightand a safety device attached to the signal-rod, so that in case of a breaking of the line the weight 59 will trip the device and cause the signal to go to danger, and,lastly, in the particular devices hereinafter fully described, which Ihave found well adapted to fit my invention, to successful use in the particular arrangement shown in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation showing my improved actuating device and compensator attached to a signal, and sh owing also the safety trip provided in case of the breaking of the signalconnection. Fig. 2 shows the safety- 60 trip in operation. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show my actuating device and compensator in different positions, illustrating its action, showing also a modification in its connection with the actusting-line; and Fig. 6 shows the device in an- 6 other position, showing it also as incased in a frame well suited for it when laid upon the ground.

A is an ordinary semaphore-signal; B, the connecting-rod which operates it. B B are sections of the connecting-rod hinged at b b and b,- and B is the end of the rod, having a stud, b and slot b O, the signal-post,cut away as unnecessary in the drawings.

D is the actuating and compensating disk which I employ, it having a centrally-placed pivot orjournal, D, and an attached drivinggear, D". (Shown in Fig. 1 as a sprocket-wheel i and in the other figures as a spur-pinion.)

d d d is the groove in disk D, the parts (1' 8o and d being circular and concentric around the pivot D, said parts being connected by part d, which is a spiral of easy ascent. The radial distance between d and d is equal to the extent of motion which it is designed the connectingrod shall have, and the length of the circular parts (1 d of the groove being slightly in excess of any anticipated change in the length of the actuating-connection.

E is the actuating-connection, here in Fig. 1 0 shown as terminating in adrive-chain passing over the sprocket-wheel D and in the other figures as terminating in a rack engaging with the pinion D.

F, Fig. 1, is a weight attached to the end of 5 the chain E.

G, Fig. 1, is a bell-crank lever pivoted about in line with the rod B, and having a heavy weight, H, attached to one arm, and a connecting rod, J, pivoted to the end of the other [00 arm and to thejoint 1), formed at the union of the two hinged sections B B of rod B. At the opposite end, G, of le'ver G is engaged the catch-lever K, pivoted at k, and having its other end attached to a cord, L, which runs below the level of weight-F, and is attached at Z to the edge of the platform or bar M. The end Z of this platform M is prevented from rising by the detent N, and its other end rests on a detent, O, or may be hinged.

I? is a casing, as is also R of Fig. 6, cash adapted for the use and position of my disk and connected mechanism.

The action of the disk in actuating a signal or other device is easily followed. The pin 1) of the connecting-rod is engaged in the slot d d d and the rod is probably further guided by providing it with a slot, b, which passes over the end of pivot- Da device which I believe novel and having advantages over the plans heretofore used.

The actuating-connection being geared with the wheel D, it is evident that any movement of said connection will cause the disk to revolve, and when the stud 1) passes into the spiral part d of the slot the attached rod B is caused to move in one direction or the other, according to the direction of rotation.

It is also evident that so long as pin 1) is in the circular slots d or (1 no movement of the rod B follows the rotation of the disk, and by making the length of these slots equal to the maximum variation of the actuating-line all such variations are compensated for'and a positive connection between the operatinglever and signal insured.

Passing now to my safety device, it will be noticed that by putting the links B B in the connecting-rod B and pivoting the rod J at their center the up-and'down movement of rod Bis not interfered with, the rod J oscillating on its pivotal connection with bell-crank G and the sect-ions B B bending slightly as they go up and down.

' In case ofthe breaking of the connection E the signal would, if connected as shown, he at once drawn to safety; but the fall of the weight F on platform M will press its endZ down, and, acting through chord L upon lever K, disengage the weighted end G of the bellcrank G, which immediately falls, as shown in Fig. 2, and through the rod J pulls the signal to danger, and keeps it there indeversed, so as to operate in the opposite direction to that shown. Instead of gear or sprocket wheels D, pulleys or any other actuating devices-may be used to connect the disk with the actuating-line. All these uses are within my invention, the particular arrangement shown being given by me because I believe it to be the best.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Asa deviceforactuatingsignals, switches, or switch-locks, the rotating disk D, having concentric circular slots d d", and spiral slot 01, in combination with a connectingrod having a stud adapted to enter and be guided by saidslots and a slot adapted to'pass over a projection of the disks pivot, all substantially as and for the purpose speci d 2. In combination with a device or actuating a signal, substantially as specified, the safety device consisting of hinged links B B, interposed in the connecting-rod B, the bellcrank lever G, the connecting-rod J, pivoted to one end of the bell-crank and to the joint b of links B B, the weight H, secured on the other arm of the bellcrank, the detaining clutch-lever K, and platform M, united by cord L, all combined, substantially as specified, so that the dropping of the weight F, secured to the actuating-connectionof the signal, will release the clutch and permit the weighted bellcrank lever to draw the signal to danger.

3. The combination ofdisk D, having grooves dd d and sprocket-wheel D, the connecting- 5 rod B, having stud b and hinged links B B, the drive-chain E, having weight F, and the safety device consisting of the weighted bellcrank lever G, link J, clutch-lever K, connecting-cord L, and platform M, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

JAMES J. TURNER. Witnesses:

LISLE SToKEs, JOSHUA MATLACK, Jr. 

